Gronk in ‘good spirits’
But TE remains in protocol
FOXBORO — Patience is paramount in regard to the biggest injury news the Patriots face heading into Super Bowl LII.
Rob Gronkowski is in the NFL’s concussion protocol following a helmet-to-helmet hit from Jaguars safety Barry Church in the second quarter of Sunday’s AFC Championship Game.
Pats fans can only wait and wish the tight end will be ready for the Feb.4 kickoff against the Philadelphia Eagles.
“He was in pretty good spirits today when I spoke to him,” special teams captain Matthew Slater said of Gronkowski.
The All-Pro must graduate through a five-step process before returning to practice with the Patriots, and must be cleared by both the team doctor and an independent neurological consultant, jointly approved by the league and the NFL Players Association, for that to happen. It begins with rest and gradually introduces more strenuous activity, from light aerobics to strength training and then on to non-contact football drills.
Gronkowski has one previous documented concussion that came in 2013 on a play when he also tore the ACL and MCL in his right knee.
It’s hard to gauge how quickly a player can return from a concussion, and the league’s own protocol language stresses that there’s no time frame for a return. Judging from other head injuries the Patriots have dealt with this year, the range is wide.
Early this season, Danny Amendola missed one game to a concussion, while Stephon Gilmore missed three. Right tackle Marcus Cannon and linebackers Trevor Reilly and Harvey Langi also missed one game with a concussion. And linebacker Shea McClellin’s problems with a head injury caused him to miss the entire season.
For the most part, the Patriots offered no comment-type responses yesterday about Gronkowski’s status, although they did say he was at Gillette Stadium.
“You know what, he’s been around and I don’t know what that . . . It’s none of my business,” left tackle Nate Solder said. “I just keep doing my job and doing what I can do.”
Backup quarterback Brian Hoyer suffered two concussions in 2015 while playing with Houston but deferred to medical experts when approached about Gronkowski.
A Herald source indicated Sunday night that the team is optimistic that Gronkowski will play in the Super Bowl.